On a summer afternoon in New Brighton, Minnesota, the life of Christine Rose Nguyen, a 48-year-old Caucasian woman, was tragically cut short in a heroic act of maternal protection. On July 17, 2008, Christine and her 17-year-old daughter, Anne, were returning to their townhouse when they were ambushed by Corey Lee Gaustad, a 21-year-old man who had been stalking the teenager. Gaustad, who was an ex-boyfriend of Anne's, had developed a violent obsession after she ended their relationship due to his violent tendencies. The day before the fatal encounter, the family had grown so concerned about his escalating threats that they had reported him to the police and were advised to seek a restraining order.
As they arrived home, Gaustad, armed with a handgun, confronted them. In a selfless act to save her daughter, Christine positioned herself between Anne and the assailant, raising her arms to block his path. This gave Anne a crucial moment to get into the back seat of their car. Gaustad then forced Christine against the vehicle and shot her in the abdomen. As Anne fled from the other side of the car, Gaustad fired multiple shots at her, but she managed to escape unharmed. He then fled the scene. Christine was rushed to the hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries within a few hours.
The manhunt for Gaustad was swift, and he was located and arrested the following day in Rochester. The investigation revealed the chilling extent of his planning; he had an elaborate plan for a shooting spree that targeted not only Anne but also her friends and other relatives. He had reportedly chosen to shoot Christine in the stomach because he had heard it was a more painful way to die. Initially charged with second-degree murder, the charges were later upgraded by a grand jury to first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
In court, Gaustad eventually pleaded guilty. He offered apologies and quoted scripture before being sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree murder of Christine Rose Nguyen and a consecutive 15-year sentence for the attempted murder of her daughter. He will have to serve a minimum of 40 years before being eligible for release. Christine's final moments were a testament to a mother's love, a sacrifice that saved her daughter's life from a calculated and vengeful attack.
